John Muir said, “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” Muir's writings often expressed his love of nature and inspired people to protect wild places. He believed that humans were a small part of nature and that wild spaces should be preserved for everyone to enjoy.
The picture above is one I took a few years ago. The trail's name is the "Pipeline," which clarifies Muir's statement. It runs from the top of Grandeur Peak, where you can look West and see the Salt Lake Valley below, and then on the East, to near the top of the Millcreek Canyon, where you can see Park City if you know where to look.
My preferred way to enter this trail is at Rattlesnake Gulch. I drive up the canyon, not too far past the entrance booth, to a parking area where the Rattlesnake Gulch trail begins. It goes up the side of the mountain, gains about 600 feet in elevation, and is about 0.8 miles up to when you can get on the Pipeline Trail. You can then head east to the left to Grandeur or west to the right to Church Fork.
I tried to run that trail as often as possible for many years, and I have run both in winter and summer. I look forward to following it. The trail is hardly a wilderness. It is, however, the first step out of our day-to-day world into a place where nature’s natural order surrounds you.
This trail was less than 4 miles from where I lived, and I was always in awe of how different I felt when I left the day-to-day world for this special place.
I often saw snakes jumping over them as they stretched across the trail. I saw bobcats and deer and heard larger animals back in the brush.
I have read a book about wolves and their lives after being reintroduced into Yellowstone Park. It shows that the balance between the Elk and the Wolves is accurate, and changes in the balance have consequences.
The wilderness and its balance point the way to understanding much more. Even more about the universe itself, as Muir said.
I loved my years running on the Pipeline Trail. I have run it both winter and summer. I look forward to following and at least walking it again.
